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Arlington Handicapping Challenge Set for Sunday, July 13

Four NHC Berths and one BCBC Berth Up for Grabs

The recent Esquire Network series “Horseplayers” highlighted the world of big-money handicapping tournaments and with that in mind Arlington International Racecourse and Trackside Off-Track Betting are pleased to announce their biggest tournament ever - the 2014 Arlington Handicapping Challenge set for Sunday, July 13.

The Arlington Handicapping Challenge is a live-money tournament with NO additional entry fee over and above the $2,000 betting bankroll. The top five finishers in the tournament will earn their way to major national tournaments including the DRF/NTRA National Handicapping Challenge (NHC) and the Breeders’ Cup Betting Challenge (BCBC) with four NHC berths and one BCBC berth available.

Contestants will fund a $2,000 contest wagering account and try to run up the biggest balance he or she can, just like every day at the races however a minimum of $100 must be wagered on each of five Arlington races of the contestants choosing. The remaining bankroll of $1,500 and any winnings earned can be wagered on other Arlington races as well as races from Belmont Park, Monmouth Park and Gulfstream Park.

In addition, wagering will be restricted to intra-race bets: Win, Place, Show, Exacta, Trifecta and Superfecta. Multi-race wagers and Super High-5 wagers are not permitted as part of the contest. The money on the wagering card remains the property of the contestant at all times and can be cashed out at the conclusion of the final race of the contest.

At the end of the contest, the player with the highest account balance on their contest card will win his or her choice of an NHC berth or a BCBC berth. Should the top finisher choose the BCBC berth, those who finish from second to fifth place will earn NHC berths. If the top finisher chooses an NHC berth, the second-place finisher will receive his or her choice of berths and so on until all five berths have been selected.

Registration is limited to two (2) entries per person and a total of 150 entries for the tournament. Advance registration at www.arlingtonpark.com is required and will open at 10 a.m. Central time on Wednesday, May 21. Walk-up entries will be permitted only in the event all 150 spots aren’t sold in advance.

The contest will be offered at Arlington International as well as any Illinois Trackside Off-Track Wagering facility. The contest area at Arlington will be in the track’s Governor’s Room on the third floor and will include designated CONTEST ONLY machines as well as additional machines and clerks for players to make wagers outside of the contest. A chef’s table and soft drinks will be provided. Those players who elect to play at a Trackside facility will be able to use their contest cards at designated self-service windows.

The Arlington Handicapping Contest will be preceded by a handicapping seminar conducted by Scott McMannis, who will be able to provide insight into how the tracks at Arlington have been playing in the days and weeks leading up to the tournament. The seminar will begin approximately one hour before Arlington’s first post, and McMannis will remain in the area to answer questions regarding the contest.